Clinical value of pre‐transplant minimal residual disease in childhood lymphoblastic leukaemia: the results of the F rench minimal residual disease‐guided protocol

Minimal residual disease ( MRD ) is a major predictive factor of the cure rate of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia ( ALL ). Haematopoietic cell transplantation is a treatment option for patients at high risk of relapse. Between 2005 and 2008, we conducted a prospective study evaluating the feasibility and efficacy of the reduction of immunosuppressive medication shortly after a non‐ ex vivo T depleted myeloablative transplantation. Immunoglobulin (Ig)H/T‐cell receptor MRD 30 d before transplant could be obtained in 122 of the 133 cases of high‐risk paediatric ALL enrolled. There were no significant demographic differences except remission status (first or second complete remission) between the 95 children with MRD